Pencil-sharpener



(No Model.)

M. RUSH.

PENGIL SHARPENER.

No. 353,761. Patented Dec. 7, 1886.

N PETER& Phmmxhographer. Washmglon, n. c`

UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE.

MADISON RUSH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PENClL-SHARPENER.

:SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353.761, dated December 7, 1886.

Application filed July 1 7, 1886. Serial No. 208,230. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MADISON RUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Pencil Sharpeners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the construction of an inexpensive, durable, and easily operated device for automatically pointing or sharpening lead and other pencils.

A device embodying a good form of'my im provements is represented in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my entire device; Fig. 2, a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the pencil-holding jaws. Fig. etis an inside face elevation of the sharpening-thimble, and Fig. 5 a side elevational detail of the pinion which is mounted upon the cutteractuating shaft.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding part-s.

In the drawings, A represents a base, from which is erected a standard, B, the base and standard together forming the framework of the device.

The upper portion of the standard is formed into or provided with a horizontal tubular internally-threaded bearing, b, within which is fitted and adapted to travel longitudinally in either direction what Iterm a cutter-actuating screw, C, the same being an externallythreaded rod, which would becylindrical except for the fact that it is flattened, or has its sides dressed off in parallel opposite planes, as represented in the drawings. At its advance extremity the said screwis provided with a conical cutter, herein termed the "sharpening-thimble, D, which is of a general character well known as a pencil-sharpening device, but which I prefer to provide with two blades or cutters, d d, in order to secure a more uniform action upon the pencil.

Upon the advance rotation of the cutteractuating screw through its threaded bearing, the cutter is caused both to rotate and to advance with said screw. The means which I employ for effecting the rotation and advance or retreat of the cutter-actuating screw and its applied thimble is a toothed pinion, E, Fig.

5, having a rectangular axial slot or eye, e, which is long enough to clear the threads of the screw and wide enough to closely but not tightly embrace its flattened sides, the said pinion being mounted upon said screw and located in a pinion-seat, b formed in the bearing b, and its teeth being engaged with the teeth of the bevel-whecl F, whichis vcrtically mounted upon a fixed shaft or axis,f, horizontally applied to the side of the bearing b.' The said bevel-wheel is conveniently provided with a handle,f but it may, if desired, be rotated by power.

It is obvious that the rotation of the bevelwheel will, through its engagement with the pinion, occasion, by reason of the mounting of said pinion upon the cutter-actuating shaft, 7e the rotation of said shaft in unison with said pinion, and its consequent advance or retraction, according to the direction of rotation of said pinion through its bearing.

It is manifest,of course,that the cutter-actuating shaft moves longitudinally with equal facility in either direction through its bearing and through the pinion, the latter being maintained against an'y movement other than one of rotation by the seat`b within which it is mounted.

The pencil which is to be pointed is mounted to face the sharpeningthimble, a convenient retaining device being a pair of spring-jaws, G G, erected from the base of the frame-work, conformed at their upper extremities to receive the pencil, normally set so as to stand apart a sufficient distance to freely permit the introduction of the pencil, and yet adapted to be clamped together, after the manner of a grip, upon the pencil by means of a sliding collar, g, embracing both j aws and adapted to be slid up or down upon them. The springjawe are a convenient pencil-holding device. Other contrivances may, however,be substituted in their stead.

The operation of the contrivance Will be readily understood. The pencil having been fixedly engaged in the pencil-holdingjaws by slipping the collar up upon the latter, rotation ioo thimble is caused to advance against the pencil and to rotate upon its extremity, so as to cuta tapering end upon it or sharpen it.

The speed of rotation of the thimble and also thespeed of its advance are regulated by the pitch of the thread upon the `cutter-actu- 'ating screw and by the diameters ofthe pinion and bevel wheel.

It is obvious that instead of flattening or dressing off a portion of the threads of the actuating-screw and providing the pinion with a rectangular eye or slot, the pinion may be feathered upon the screw in any well-known and convenient manner.. 4

'While I prefer to employ a conical twobladedthimble of the character represented, itis obvious that other sharpening devices may be applied to the screw in its stead.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 4 v 1. The combination of a pencil holding or supporting device,a pencil-sharpening device, an actuatingscrew upon which said pencilsharpening device is mounted in permanent alignment with said holding device, and by, which it is progressively advanced, a ,fixed bearing through which said actuating-screw rotates in order progressively to advance said pencil-sharpening device, and means for occasioning the rotation of said actuating-screw and its connected sharpening device, substantially as set forth. v

2. The combination of a pencil holding or supporting device, apencil-sharpening device, an actuatingscrew upon which said pencilsharpening device is mounted in alignment with said holder, afixed'bearing through which said actuating-screw rotates, a pinion feathered upon said actuating-screw and retained against longitudinal movement with or upon said screw, and a bevel-wheel engaged with said pinion, substantially as set forth. b

3. The combination of the spring-jaws, 'a threaded bearing erected upon a frame-work alsosupporting said spring-jaws, a cutter-actnating seiew fitted within said bearing, a sharpeningthi mble connected with 'the advance eX- tremity of said a'ctuating-screw,apinion feathered upon said actuating--screw and located within a pinion'seatformed in said frame-Work, and a bevel-wheel engaged with said pinion, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

. In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto signed my name this lthday of July, A. D. 1886.

. MADISON RUSH.

In presence of- J. BONSALL TAYLOR, WM. C. STRAWBRIDGE. T 

